HSC Italian Continuers key terms

A household that includes relatives beyond parents and children, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins, often living together or in close daily contact.

The grandparents of a family, frequently central figures in Italian family life who help raise children and pass on traditions and dialect.

The situation of two people living together as a couple without being married, a common topic in discussions about changing family patterns.

The legal and social union between two people, often discussed in texts about weddings, divorce rates and changing attitudes among young Italians.

The legal ending of a marriage, a frequent theme in reading passages about how Italian family structures have changed since the twentieth century.

The period of life between childhood and adulthood, often the subject of personal writing tasks about school, friendship, identity and conflict with parents.

Free time away from study or work, used in texts and writing tasks about hobbies, sport, going out with friends and weekend routines.

Organised physical activity such as football, swimming or cycling, commonly discussed in personal writing about health, teamwork and leisure habits.

A person's physical and mental condition, a frequent topic in texts about diet, exercise, stress and healthy lifestyles among young people.

The way a person eats and the food they habitually consume, often examined in passages about the Mediterranean diet and healthy eating.

A traditional eating pattern rich in olive oil, vegetables, fish and grains, recognised as part of Italy's cultural heritage and often praised for its health benefits.

Foods and goods closely associated with a particular region or town, such as cheese, wine or olive oil, valued for local identity and quality.

A protected designation of origin label that guarantees a food product was produced, processed and prepared in a specific geographical area according to set rules.

A regional variety of language spoken locally alongside standard Italian, often discussed in texts about identity, tradition and language loss.

Customs and practices passed down through generations, such as festivals, food rituals and religious celebrations, central to describing Italian community life.

A local celebration honouring the patron saint of a town, usually involving processions, food stalls and music, often described in community-focused texts.

A formal religious parade in which people walk through the streets, often carrying statues or banners, a common feature of Italian local festivals.

Unpaid work done to help others or the community, frequently presented in reading texts about social responsibility and young people's civic involvement.

A group of people linked by shared location, culture or interests, a key concept in texts about neighbourhoods, migrants and local services.

A district or neighbourhood within a town or city, often described in texts about local facilities, community life and urban change.

The movement of people into a country to live there, a recurring topic in Italian texts about multicultural society, integration and demographic change.

The process by which newcomers become part of a host society while keeping aspects of their own culture, often discussed in passages about migration.

The inherited heritage of a country, including monuments, art, language and customs, often mentioned in texts about tourism and preservation.

A building or institution where objects of artistic, historical or scientific interest are collected and displayed, commonly featured in reading passages about tourism.

The business of providing services for travellers and visitors, a major sector of the Italian economy often discussed in texts about regions and employment.

A statement asking for something, such as information or a service; recognising polite requests is a common listening and reading task.

Advice offered to help someone decide what to do; candidates must identify who gives advice, to whom, and whether it is accepted.

An offer to attend an event or take part in an activity, usually with details of time, place and reply, often heard in listening texts.

A recorded or written message left for someone by phone, a typical listening task where candidates note the caller, purpose and required action.

A public notice or broadcast giving information, such as a station announcement or advertisement, which candidates must summarise accurately.

A radio or television news bulletin, often used in listening tasks where candidates identify the main story and supporting details.

The heading of an article or the name of a news item, used in reading tasks to predict content and locate information quickly.

A distinct section of a written text, usually dealing with one idea, which helps readers scan for information and understand structure.

A short account of the main points of a text, a frequent reading and writing task requiring selection of key information and omission of detail.

The reason a text was written, such as to inform, persuade or entertain; identifying it is a common reading comprehension question.

Language suited to formal situations, using polite forms such as lei and complex sentences, required in letters to offices or unknown adults.

Relaxed everyday language used with friends and family, including tu forms, contractions and colloquial expressions, appropriate in personal messages.

A letter written to an institution or person in authority, following conventions such as a formal greeting, clear purpose and polite closing formula.

A personal letter or email to someone known well, using friendly greetings, direct address and a conversational tone with personal news.